Lake Gogebic West Shore Road Parks

Photography by James Marvin Phelps

The sun rises over Lake Gogebic.

This shore, the first to be developed, has most of Lake Gogebic's small family resorts and some restaurants. West Shore Road (also known as M-64) goes along the shore, but trees and homes block most views of the lake. However, three parks have swimming areas and boat launches used by anglers fishing for walleye, perch, smallmouth bass, and northern pike. Two park hiking trails, not much used, go up through woods (past wildflowers in season) to high points with fine views. The drive around the lake, pleasant enough in a mostly developed way, is about 40 miles.

Arranged from M-28 at Merriweather south to U.S. 2 near Marenisco,

■ LAKE GOGEBIC STATE PARK (906-842-3341). The most visible aspects of this 320-acre park are the large campground, seen from M-64, and the long, sandy swimming beach, nicest on the lake. There are also a big picnic area and a boat launch. A wonderful overlooked feature is the 2-mile interpretive nature trail loop across the road. It goes up into an old-growth area with some very large maples and hemlocks. Trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, and other spring wildflowers are plentiful from mid-May into June. In fall color season the maples glow. The trail isn't as smooth as it was when laid out, when the park had a full-time crew of competent inmates from Camp Marenisco. Now the camp has become a prison, and work crews of trusties are no longer reliably available. These days the park is maintained as staffing and budgets permit. Historical note: in the 1930s area landowners, including the family of fabulously wealthy Escanaba lumber baron Bill Bonifas, donated land for this park. On M-64/West Shore Rd., 8 miles south of M-28 at Merriweather or 10 miles north of U.S. 2 near Marenisco. State park sticker required: $10/year for Michigan residents, $8/day and $29/year for others. Wheelchair accessible: showers, toilet, boat launch.
■ ALLIGATOR EYE. The silhouette of this long hill, part of the Ottawa National Forest, really does look like an alligator when seen from Lake Gogebic's opposite shore. A prominent rock face looks like the alligator's eye, giving the hill its name. (You can get the effect at the state's little roadside park and boat launch on East Shore Road.) A short hiking trail—steep, but easy enough for most—leads up through a mixed hardwood and conifer forest to the summit. The reward is a long view across the lake to the east. It's especially beautiful in fall color season. Snowmobilers enjoy the view by riding up the back of the bluff. On M-64/West Shore about two miles south of Lake Gogebic State Park and about 6 miles north of U.S. 2. Look for a parking area, big enough for busses, on the road but away from the lake. Handicap-accessible: no.
■ LAKE GOGEBIC COUNTY PARK. (906) 842-3333 (on-site caretaker). A nice swimming beach, picnic area with a rentable pavilion, and boat launch ($2/day, $10/season) make this 132-acre Gogebic County park near Lake Gogebic's south end a destination for area people and vacationers. Handsome accents from the era of picturesque park landscaping of the 1920s and 1930s are fieldstone restrooms and a pump station, complementing rocky outcrops. See below for camping.
On M-6/4/West Shore about 1 ˝ miles south of Alligator Eye and 12 miles south of M-28. About 10 miles north of U.S. 2 at Marenisco. Pre-season reservations: (906) 663-4687. Handicap access: call.

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